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MIKE MINIX  18, THE MISSILE LAUNCH TO TARGETS

Autobiography

By Micheal B. Minix, Sr. M.D., F.I.C.S.

Updated February 25, 2019

https://missileminix.com/

MICHEAL B. MINIX, SR., M.D., F.I.C.S., (Fellow International College of Surgeons)  CURRICULUM VITAE, SPORT, WORK, AND SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATOR HISTORY

• BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PICTURES ABOVE:  
• 1. Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) Congratulated Micheal B. Minix, Sr., M.D. for 50 years membership
• 2.  1961 Class University of Kentucky Football, Head Coach Blanton Collier 
• 3. 1974 Chief Resident, Dept Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University  of Kentucky. Standing far left.
• 4. 1st ever in history YAG Laser for Measles Membranous Cataract R and L eyes. He was 6 months old and was totally blind. He had never seen his mother. The  laser treatments restored his vision and he saw his mother for the first time. Later in life he graduated high school and was able to acquire his drivers licensee and become employed.
• 5. 1960 U.S. High School All-America Team. Joe Namath, Dick Butkus, Micheal B. Minix, Sr, MD many others who became famous college and professional football players.
• 6. High School All-America Game for 1960 U.S. senior class. The Missile was the Offensive MVP
• 8. Heat Illness High School game 1959 did not evolve to Hear Stroke, Thank goodness. The Missile later returned to the game and ran another TD.
• 7.  Book about our 1961 UK Football Class  who were brutally, physically and psychologically abused. Team was beaten-down from 88 to 30 Athletes. The Missile was forced to choose between football and Medical School. The Missile graduated Medical School one year early. 
•  PHS Record 20 letters in 4 major High School Sports and 4 major High School Sports that have playing and participation rules written by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). 
• Paintsville, KY High School Football Tigers began playing football in 1921. Played only 1 game. defeated Mayo College. Won-Lost in 1921 1-0. PHS is a member of NFHS. 
• Mike Minix Sr. appeared in 3 Kentucky State Championship Final competitions: (1.) one Kentucky Baseball State Tournament (2.) one Kentucky Track and Field State Competition (3.) one Kentucky Football State Playoff.
• The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) writes playing rules for boys' and girls' 17 sports : basketball, baseball, cross country, field hockey, football, boys gymnastics, girls gymnastics, ice hockey, boys lacrosse, soccer, softball, spirit, swimming and diving, track and field, volleyball, water polo and wrestling. 
•  "The National Federation of State High School Associations aka NATIONAL FEDERATION OF HIGH SCHOOLS™ (NFHS) does not write rules for the sport of golf. High school golf uses the USGA Rules of Golf. View the rules online. 
• Paintsville, KY High School, a member of NFHS, has 2 categories of High School Athletic Participation letters i.e. (1.) letters with only NFHS sport participation written rules and (2.) letters with non-NFHS sport participation written rules.
• Leading Scorer in the nation 618 points and 103 touchdowns at end of high school career 1960 
• High School All American Football Team 1960 
• High School All American Football Game Ft. Lauderdale, FL 1961, US South vs North played at Lockhart Stadium used mostly for soccer and American football, then a variety of sports in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States.  DRV PNK Stadium (pronounced as Drive Pink Stadium, formerly Inter Miami CF Stadium) is a soccer-specific stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Built on the site of the former Lockhart Stadium, the 18,000-seat stadium is the home pitch of Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer and its MLS Next Pro reserve side Inter Miami CF II. DRV PNK Stadium opened in 2020 as an interim venue for Inter Miami CF until the completion of the proposed Freedom Park stadium. Major League Soccer (MLS) football club Inter Miami is now clear to commence construction on its $1bn (£820M) stadium complex following the latest zoning vote at Miami City Hall this weekCity Commissioners voted 4-1 to give the club’s co-owners David Beckham, Jorge Mas and Jose Mas permission to apply for the permits to break ground on Miami Freedom Park.
• Most Valuable player, Frank Lehey Award Offense MVP, High School All American Football Game, 1961 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida representing 1960 High School Football Season.   

CURRICULUM VITAE, SPORT, WORK, AND SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATOR HISTORY

• Retired Board Certified Surgical Ophthalmologist: Emergency Trauma Eye Surgery, Cataract and Implant surgery, Glaucoma Trabeculectomy Surgery, Yag Laser for Membranous cataract and other deformations and Argon Laser Photocoagulation for Diabetic and other Retinopathy, Retinal Detachment Drainage, buckles and bands and other eye surgery types and office general Ophthalmology 
• Education:
  •Graduate, Paintsville High School, Kentucky, Senior year 1960-1961
  •Attended undergraduate University of Kentucky 3 yeas, 1961-1964, on UK Football 4 year Grant-In-Aid College Scholarship. 
• Began in College of Arts and Sciences, with designated major in chemistry on 4 year tract
• {Aside}: Because football and sports were so important, they deserve mention. MBMSrMD, this reporter, believed he could have played professional football or baseball depending on consistent injury-free status, but pulled-out of Coach Charlie Bradshaw UK Football Program for the study of Medicine which was a significantly much more mental, time-consuming and exhausting study and profession. 
• Bear Bryant coached UK football 8 seasons from 1946-53 and the Wildcats achieved a 60-23-6 record including 5 top 25 AP polls and in 1950 UK won its first-ever SEC title. Bradshaw played football under Bryant at Kentucky and was an assistant at Kentucky under Blanton Collier and an assistant under Bryant at Alabama
• Football was paramount for Minix and where he earned his reputation. He had always maintained academics and sports simultaneously. 
• Minix led the UK freshmen team, the SEC rule in those days, in passing, punting, total-offense and interceptions-made, but Minix "pulled-out" from Coach Charlie Bradshaw Football Program Tragedy for the study of medicine. 
• In 1962, Bradshaw, a Bear Bryant disciple, was hired by UK; Collier was not replaced, per se. Bradshaw only filled-in the head coach job.
• University of Kentucky Head football Coach Blanton Collier, who with Paul Brown designed the 'West Coast' passing offense' that SF 49ers, Tom Brady and numerous others used, then coached the Cleveland Browns to and thru their 'Golden Era of Football' with Jim Brown and teammates. 
• The problem was that Bradshaw did not know when to stop the physical and psychological abuse like Bryant knew how and when to stop.
•  Bradshaw and his assistants did not know when to stop breaking his Athletes' noses to spite their faces, slugging and knocking-out players' teeth, kicking athletes on the ground and preaching his 2nd grade psychology. Bradshaw didn't know when to stop his cruel, abusive behaviors and over-reactions and prevent his own self-destruction, like Coach Bear Bryant knew. 
• Bradshaw and his assistants did not know football offense. They imagined UK could line-up, fire-out and over-power the SEC with a wishbone offense with his 22  'keeper' 'lesser' win-at-all-cost players as defined by Bear Bryant; not student-athletes. That of course failed. 
• Georgian Tech's Coach Bobby Dodd and other renowned coaches at that time understood the complexities and mindfulness that football required.      
• Bradshaw gave this reporter an ultimatum i.e. either play Football or study Medicine. 
• Bradshaw intended to reduce his 'keepers' to 'lesser' players as defined by Bear Bryant in his 'Sports Illustrated' biography by Frank Deford, Nov 23, 1981.
• No one within the Bradshaw coaching staff was very 'offensive football minded'. Bradshaw had begun a Tuesday and Thursday football course for the UK student civilians and we football players were to be the demonstrators in full gear. It was to be another practice time for the Athletes and 2 credits for UK student civilians. This reporter, who was expertly trained in offensive football was to be the lead active instructor. The Problem was the 'football course' conflicted with a Botany pre-med requirement and this reporter could ill-afford to drop the required class. In those days, organized curriculae [L.] and scheduling in pre-med undergraduate was tight nationwide. 1st class Pre-med and 1st class football combinations were extremely difficult to associate. Thus the ultimatum reached a painful decision point. Thankfully, this reporter's priorities were in the correct positions. 
• "Pulling-out was not quitting, but moving from a corrupt Athletic program to a better opportunity," as defined by sagacious Coach Roy Walton, Tates Creek High School, Lexington, KY......58 of the 1962 UK team "pulled-out" leaving 30, 
• {Continue}: Admission to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in 1964, after 3 years Pre-Med undergraduate study, prior to undergraduate chemistry degree completion, 
• Ophthalmology Externship Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Fl 1967; Edward Norton MD, Chairman Ophthalmology 1958-1991
• Graduate University of Kentucky College of Medicine 1968
• Graduate Rotating General Practice Internship, Memorial Hospital, Savannah, GA, 1969
• Ophthalmology Residency University Kentucky College of Medicine began 1971
• Basic Science Course in Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 1972
• Clinical Ultrasonography training, instructor, Dr. Richard Dallow, MD, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons 1974
• Graduate Ophthalmology Residency, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 1974
• C.A.R.E. (Child Abuse Recognition Education, sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, PCAK, and Department of Pediatric Forensic Pathology, University of Louisville, Kentucky Medical Association) certified to teach other physicians and their office staff in their community office about recognition of Child Abuse
• Medical Practice. 'Giving back' and striving to make a difference was the hallmark of this reporter's Medical Practice. There were many more glamorous and better financial opportunities, but somehow those were not important. Making a difference in his community was more important:
• Ophthalmology residency positions were few in number and this reporter had to wait-out his residency opportunity while practicing general medicine.
• General Practice in Medicine, Prestonsburg, KY, 1969-1971
• Emergency Room Medicine – Prestonsburg General Hospital and Highlands Regional Medical Center 1969-1974
• Ophthalmology surgical practice following residency – Ashland, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, Kentucky 1974-1992 and part-time Medical Ophthalmology practice 1992-1998
• Retired from Surgical and medical Ophthalmology Practice; physical disability
• Board Certified American Board of Ophthalmology 1977
• U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corp, 810th Hospital Unit, 1970-1976, which began as a Convalescent Hospital Unit transitioned to Evacuation Hospital began transition to a Mobile Hospital ~1974. The 810th was not deployed. Vietnam War ended 1975. Doctors in the 810th Hospital received wartime medicine and surgery lectures and didactic Instruction. In close proximity in Lexington to the College of Medicine, University Kentucky. The 810th enjoyed the benefits of every position necessary for the operation of a complete hospital. Students, interns, residents and faculty from internists, surgeons, dentists, pathology administrators, other Doctors, Nurses, x-ray, physical therapy, laboratory, social workers, chaplains,  health services management etc. joined the 810th. all the 810th needed was a building or tent in which to provide complete care-to and administrative records-for wounded soldiers. As a non-specialized Captain in the beginning, was promoted to Major after specializing in surgical ophthalmology and as this reporter's 6 year tour of duty ended.  But this reporter's private practice in rural East Kentucky was huge, no other eye surgeon for coverage and after 6 years did not, unfortunately, because of logistics, did not re-up. Recruitment of 2 partners on separate occasions was unsuccessful. Rural East Kentucky  Appalachia was no attractive to most candidates. Promotion to the CO after 20 years was a possibility according to sources.
• Ophthalmology, Commission for Handicapped Children Ashland, Kentucky
• Founding Member of the University of Kentucky Eye foundation, Inc.
  Members: James W. Holsinger, Jr., M.D., Ph.D. Chancellor of the University of Kentucky’s Chandler Medical Center.; Emery A. Wilson, M.D. Dean, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky; Richard P. Mills, M.D., M.P.H, Chairman Department of Ophthalmology, University of Kentucky; William N. Offutt, M.D.; Micheal B. Minix, Sr., M.D.; and John W. Collins, M.D. incorporators of a non-profit corporation under the provisions of Chapter 273 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes.
• Past Medical Volunteer And Instructor:
  •Mudd Creek Clinic, now The Eula Hall Health Center, Mudd Creek, Floyd County, Kentucky
  •Nathaniel Methodist Mission, Lexington Kentucky
  •Volunteer for Pre-participation Sports Participation Physicals Exams Paintsville, Ashland, Lexington, KY
  •Volunteer Ophthalmology faculty Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine University of Kentucky
  •Volunteer Ophthalmologist, Veterans Hospital Clinic, Huntington, WVA
  •Lecturer, Neuroanatomy of the Visual System, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, director and surgeon, Professor Robert Bradley, M.D.
  •Lecturer, Anatomy and Physiology, Lexington (KY) Community College
• Non-Dues Assessment Retired secondary to Physical Disability:
  •American Medical Association
  •Pan American Association of Ophthalmology
  •American Academy of Ophthalmology
  •Kentucky Eye Physicians and Surgeons
  •Class Representative, Board of Directors University of Kentucky Medical Alumni Association
• Non-Active Dues Assessment active Membership secondary to Physical Disability Participation:
• Kentucky Medical Association
• F.I.C.S., Fellow International College of Surgeons
  •Fellow University of Kentucky
  •Lifetime University of Kentucky Alumni Association
  •Child and Adult Physical, Psychological and Sexual Athlete Abuse Recognition Education
  •Prevent Child Athlete Abuse America
  •Prevent Child Athlete Abuse Kentucky
  •Member of the Brunel International Research Network for Athlete Welfare (BIRNAW) since Nov 19, 2010. BIRNAW was formed by a group of international researchers, who were working together to promote athlete welfare through research and consultancy. Brunel University located in East London, United Kingdom, provided members research articles and updates, periodically that concerned international Child Athlete Welfare
• Current Research:
  •Athlete safety 1st 
• •Prevent Athlete Injury
  •Youth Sports Safety
  •Child and Adult Physical and Psychological (Emotional) Athlete Endangerment that Results in Serious Athlete Injury and Abuse and Athlete Sexual Abuse
  •University of Kentucky Football Abuse Study
  •Prevention of Child Abuse
  •Exercise to Exhaustion
  •Immune Response During and After Exercise to Exhaustion
  •Exercising to Exhaustion in Heated Ozone is a Formula For the Death of an Athlete by Micheal B. Minix, Sr., M.D., F.I.C.S. Founder, Childhood and Adult Physical & Psychological Athlete Abuse, The Sport Digest – ISSN: 1558-6448 United States Sports Academy, America’s Sports University®]
  •Presentation: The Forensic Definition of “Child Athlete Abuse Syndrome, A New Disease” April 29, 2011, Micheal B. Minix, Sr., M.D., at the Athlete Abuse Summit, Omni Parker House, Boston, MA. This was the first public conference report of the definition for Child Athlete Abuse.
  •Journal of Sports Medicine & Doping Studies, Child athlete abuse syndrome; a new disease- Forensic definition, International Conference on Sports Medicine and Fitness, March 23-25, 2015 Chicago, USA, Micheal B Minix, Sr., M.D., F.I.C.S.. Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Sports Med Doping Stud
  •A Longitudinal and Retrospective Study of The Impact of Coaching Behaviors on the 1961-1962 University of Kentucky Football Wildcats”, Kay Collier McLaughlin, Ph.D., Micheal B. Minix Sr. M.D., Twila Minix, R.N., Jim Overman, Scott Brogdon.
• Coronavirus (COVID 19) Pathophysiology, Treatment and Management
• Past Research:
• Dislocation of Lens Diagnosis by Ultrasonography, Minix, M.B., Wirtschafter, J.D. and Cantor, H.E., Journal of the American Medical Association, J.A.M.A., 207:1354-1355, 1969.
• Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery and Ipsilateral Acquired Blepharoptosis Phillip A. Tibbs, MD; John W. Walsh, MD; Michael B. Minix, MD, Archives of Neurology, Arch Neurol. 1981;38(5):323-324.
• Micheal B. Minix, Sr., M.D., F.I.C.S., when a young newcomer student, conducted hands on laboratory investigations during summer employment while in undergraduate and medical school, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, and was Blessed to investigate while employed under renowned surgeons and mentors Frank C. Spencer M.D., Ben Eiseman M.D, Benjamin F. Rush M.D., Lester Bryant, M.D., Jerry C. Rosenberg, M.D., that supported the following publications:
• Blood lactic Acid levels in irreversible hemorrhagic and lethal endotoxin shock, Rosenberg JC, Rush BF, Surg Gynecol Obstet 1968 June; 126 (6): 1247-50
• An enzymatic-spectrophotometric determination of pyruvic and lactic acid in blood. Methodologic aspects., Rosenberg JC, Rush BF., Clin Chem. 1966 May;12(5):299-307.
• Lethal Endotoxin Shock: Oxygen Deficit, Lactic Acid Levels …JAMA by JC Rosenberg – ‎1966 – ‎Cited by – ‎ Rush, B.F.; Rosenberg, J.C.; and Spencer, F.C.: Changes in Oxygen Consumption in Shock: Correlation With Other Known Parameters , J Surg Res 5:252-255
• Consultant: National Cheer Safety Foundation
• Testimony:
• As an advocate, Micheal B. Minix, Sr., M.D., F.I.C.S. testified gratis, as requested by Rep Joni Jenkins, Louisville, before the KY House Education Committee for House Bill 383, which passed and became KY state law. The new law Directed the Kentucky Board of Education to require high school coaches to complete a sports safety course, receive training in the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and many other Athlete Safety 1st measures.
• Deposed gratis in Wrongful Death, Child Endangerment Criminal Suit of 15 year old football athlete, which was settled out of court.
• Micheal B. Minix, Sr., M.D., F.I.C.S. is not soliciting business as a medical witness or business providing expert medical testimony or consultation for Civil Suits or any other non-mandatory testimony.
• Athletic History:
  •Honorable mention Courier Journal All State Football 1958, HS sophomore
  •3rd team Courier Journal All State Football 1959, HS junior
  •1st team Courier Journal All State Football 1960, HS senior
  •Record 20 high school Athletic Letters in 4 major High School Sports , Football, Baseball, Basketball, Track, at Paintsville High School. The above pictured official Athletic Letter presented to Mike Minix his senior year 1660-1961 by Coach Brugh, a school official, is considered the record number of Athletic Letters  in 4 major High School Sports  at PHS and will stand until an official letter with greater than 20 letters in 4 major High School Sports is presented to a PHS Athlete his or her senior year by a PHS school official.  Athletes paid for their sweaters and the official letters were provided by PHS. The letter sweater was professionally assembled, shadow-boxed and hung in the PHS gymnasium lobby, at PHS Superintendent Paul Winston Williams request ~1996. The Lobby was being refurbished and included other Athletes' memorabilia. Superintendent Paul Winston Williams requested the memorabilia shadow-box with the 20 letter sweater and it was provided to him and PHS. The 20 letters were the record regarded by Superintendent Paul Williams at the time of his request and are regarded as the PHS record in 4 major High School Sports, today until the record is officially surmounted by an official letter in 4 major sports presented to an Athlete and presented by PHS dated their senior year. Verbal, anecdotal claims and later dated PHS School Athletic letters in 4 major sports are not official.
• All records are made to be broken. Mike Minix, if alive, will gladly congratulate any and all persons who officially surmounts his 103 career touchdowns at PHS and 20 Athletic Letters in 4 major sports at PHS. Minor Sports are not regulated by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
• Mike Minix was a PHS team starting player; appeared in 3 Kentucky State Final competitions: 1. a Kentucky Baseball State Tournament 2. a Kentucky Track and Field State Competition 3. a Kentucky Football State Playoffs
  •Leading Scorer in the nation 618 points and 103 touchdowns at end of high school career 1960
  •High School All American Football Team 1960
  •All American Football Game Ft. Lauderdale, FL 1961, South vs North U.S.
  •Most Valuable player, Frank Lehey Award Offense MVP, All American Football Game, 1961 Ft. Lauderdale, FL representing 1960 High School Football season
• Declined Professional baseball contracts June 1961 for UK College Football. Professional Baseball Draft began 2 years later,1963. Prior to 1963 contracts and bonuses were negotiated. Athletes were not drafted then.
  •Football Grant in Aid (Scholarship) University of Kentucky 1961 under Head Coach Blanton Collier
  •Pulled Out from Athlete Cruelty and Abusive Football Program under Head Coach Charlie Bradshaw University of Kentucky 1962 who gave an ultimatum either Foosball or Medicine and who was later penalized by NCAA for rules violations. Bradshaw preferred concentration on football, not pre-Medicine, he considered the study of medicine a football distraction and therefore issued an ultimatum to Cease and Desist.
  •Paintsville High School Sports Hall of Fame
  •In 1985 mbmsrmd, for his sports accomplishments, and his grandfather, Charles Wesley Wheeler for his “dynamic wholesale business” successes, founder of Sandy Valley Grocery, Inc. and Paintsville High School Coach Walter Brugh together with three others were inducted into the Johnson County Kentucky Sesquicentennial Hall of Fame, 150 year anniversary of Johnson County, Kentucky founding.
  •Dawahare’s Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame
• Mountain Sports Hall of Fame
• Past Kentucky Coaching and Athletic Administrative Experience:
  •Coach and Manager Paintsville Little League Baseball
  •Coach Ashland Little League Baseball
  •Head Coach Junior Football League Ashland
  •Head Coach Paintsville Middle School Football
  •Head Coach Hager Middle School Basketball Ashland
  •Manager Ashland Babe Ruth League
  •Manager Paintsville Babe
• Manager Lexington Babe Ruth League
  •President, Johnson County Babe Ruth League
  •Board of Directors, Paintsville Yankees Baseball Minor League Team, Class A minor league team owned by George Steinbrenner, New York Yankees.  “Thanks to the efforts of Paul Fyffe, owner of Paintsville, KY’s only radio station, WSIP, in 1978 George Steinbrenner New York Tricounty Yankees minor-league baseball team began in Paintsville, Kentucky.” [Todd Pack] They were previously the Paintsville Brewers and the Paintsville Highlanders owned by Paul Fyffe. Yankees  were affiliated with the Rookie level Appalachian League.[1][2]and were Appalachian League champions from 1979 to 1981 and 1983. They came in second in 1982 and 1984. The franchise moved to Montana for the 1985 season.[3] [Wikipedia]  “Notably, Jim Morris, subject of the Disney Movie "The Rookie" made his professional debut for Paintsville in 1983. Major League All-Stars José Rijo, Ron Hansen and Dan Plesac are Paintsville Tricounty Yankees alumni. “In the summer of 1980, Darryl Strawberry signed with the Yankees archrivals, the New York Mets, and began his career in Kingsport, TN and played his first professional baseball game in Paintsville. The Paintsville Yankees played their home games at Johnson Central High School's Paul G. Fyffe Field.  [When the N.Y. Yankees came to Appalachia, Todd Pack, March 31, 2011
• Dr. Minix began and named the Kentucky Highlands Museum Society (KHMS Inc.) imagined independently but learned of others similar endeavors. A competent, diversified, experienced board of directors was formed and began the museum housed in the Mayo Mansion II. Mayo Mansion I was constructed in Paintsville, KY by coal baron John C C Mayo and exists today as a school. Mayo Mansion I and  II are historic landmarks. Mrs John C C Mayo moved to Ashland, KY and “remodeled” an historic home, because new home construction was illegal in 1919 because of War I. Mayo Mansion II was ~15,000 sq ft and basically a new mansion that was built around the old historic home in accordance with the rules. The walls of the old historic home can be viewed through a preserved hidden porhole. For larger office space, in 1978 Dr. Micheal B. Minix purchased the Mayo Mansion II, 1516 Bath Avenue, Ashland, KY from the Bruce Stapleton Estate, which had become unoccupied and neglected. Dr Minix used the Mansion II for  larger office space and sincerely wanted it preserved and protected. Dr. Minix refurbished the Mayo Mansion II from 1978 through 1979 and transformed it into the impressive, magnanimous mansion as it was initially intended. His heart was aimed at conservation of history and conservation of the mansion simultaneously. A self-sustaining museum was the perfect solution for its safeguard and his medical practice realignment. Dr. Minix, himself in charge,  named the new museum endeavor the Kentucky Highlands Museum Society (KHMS Inc.) and was its only benefactor beginning May, 1983. The museum purpose was organized and operated for the procurement, protection, storage of historical, scientific, artistic, and cultural relics, artifacts and genealogy from the entire Eastern Kentucky Highlands, an area rich in history, to be displayed and exhibited. Dr. Minix leased a designated square footage space in the Mayo Mansion II to the KHMS Inc. Mike remained the only Kentucky Highland Museum’s benefactor and, because of the communities' deteriorating economy, Ashland Oil management's relocation to Lexington, KY, lack of additional benefactors as predicted, need for reorganization and larger space, Dr. Minix ultimately sold the Mayo Mansion II August 8, 1988. Dr Minix donated enough money in 5 years to facilitate the museum’s beginning and the KHMS Inc. and Museum moved to a larger different, affordable  location and continues to thrive today.

In 1974 Micheal B. Minix, Sr., M.D., F.I.C.S. 2 main objectives of  his life were to establish modern Ophthalmology and modern eye surgery in Appalachian Eastern Kentucky and have a large family with 5 children. 

Dr. Minix facilitated the establishment of the first ophthalmic (eye) surgical microscopes for cataract and other microscopic eye surgeries in Kings Daughters Hospital, Ashland, KY, Highland Regional Hospital, Prestonsburg, KY, Bellefonte Hospital, Russell, KY and Paul B. Hall Regional Hospital, Paintsville, KY.  Sadly, the exceptional, important facility, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital is now closed. OLBH proudly and expertly served the community for more than 60 years. 

Dr. Minix also performed the 1st retinal and retinal detachment surgery in those hospitals and purchased himself the 1st Coherent Radiation Lasers very soon after they were offered for sale to ophthalmologists, in 1985 for treatments in 2 of his offices. 

"Coherent Radiation was founded in Palo Alto, California in 1966.   After receiving capital from the Rockefeller family, Coherent converted to public ownership in 1970. The company developed a family of industrial lasers to complement its first product, diversifying from there into medical and scientific markets, where applications for lasers were in abundance. As the years passed, Coherent’s commitment to research and development spawned a diverse range of lasers, stretching from small, argon green lasers for use in eye surgery to invisible carbon dioxide lasers developed to cut metal." [https://www.encyclopedia.com/] 

  Furthermore, Marcus Stephen Minix, Sr., his younger brother became a trained optician, while Mike finished his ophthalmology residency. Mark was the first Nationally Board Certified Optician in Kentucky, which meant he manufactured, didn’t order, his glasses and fit contact lens. At that time, Mark was the most qualified optician in Kentucky and possibly is today. He instructed many OJT opticians employed by large, popular optical companies and developed loyal patients of his own.

Following attendance at the University of Kentucky, Mark enrolled in The Durham Technical Optician 2 year program in Durham N.C. At that time it was the best complete opticianry program in the Southeast U.S. Mark was taught how to fill eye glass prescriptions and make lenses, cut them to fit into an eyeglass frame. He learned to adjust finished glasses to fit the customer and surfacing which consists of blocking, finishing, polishing, and inspecting both plastic and glass single-vision and multifocal lenses. He mastered bench work, which included edging, hand beveling, safety beveling, heat treating, chemical tempering, tinting, and mounting lenses and dispensing, which included measuring, adapting, and fitting eyeglasses and contact lenses to the patient. 

Mark was trained for teaching, manufacturing and retail opticianry. No other Kentuckian had been so taught.

Upon completion of the five-semester sequence of courses Mark received the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Opticianry. Mark was a schooled optician not an apprentice optician; others were apprentice OJT types. Mark knew the entire scope of Opticianry. He was so skilled that he taught at Durham school after graduation, before he moved to Ashland.

Mark provided opticianry services in Ashland and other offices with Dr. Minix. Micheal didn’t particularly care about the eye glass prescription part and the “eye business” but it was a “necessary pain in the neck.” There were no free standing Optical Companies in East KY. Thankfully, Mark took modern opticianry to the area to fill that gap and took excellent care of patients. Until Mark, there were no completely trained Opticians in the state of KY, just ‘bench trained’ apprentice opticians, who were able only to do what they were apprenticed.

Marcus S. Minix, Sr. perfectly complemented Micheal B.  Minix, Sr. M.D., F.I.C.S. and his concept of modern Eastern Kentucky Eye Care to the underserved area. Micheal B.  Minix, Sr. M.D., F.I.C.S. and Marcus S. Minix, Sr. were the first Eye Care professionals to accept Medicaid in 1974 and 1978 respectively.  Micheal B.  Minix, Sr. M.D., F.I.C.S. began accepting Medicaid in 1969 when he first began general practice and Emergency Department medicine. Both performed significant professional charity. The same was true for their older brother pharmacist, Maurice M. Minix, Sr. who practiced in Prestonsburg and remote Lackey, KY who also had a charitable professional reputation.

For completeness sake, their older sister Marlene Minix Van Hoose's daughter's Myra Van Hoose Blackwelder family at Elmsford, NY , March 4, 2014: The Blackwelder Family received the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association 'Family of the Year Award' at the 63rd National Awards Dinner on Monday, June 23 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, New York. Myra Van Hoose Blackwelder was LPGA Tour's Rookie of the Year in 1980 and University of Kentucky Golf Coach. Her husband, son and son-in-law are expert LPGA golf caddies and daughter Mallory Blackwelder a University of Florida and Kentucky and LPGA golfer.    

Dr. Minix's family has many other notable members that speak for themselves and will be added later in time. 

Both Dr. Micheal B. Minix Sr's 2 main life objectives were accomplished before he ceased his Ophthalmology surgical practice because of his physical disability.